Custodian wins $2M scratch-off lottery ticket

Dec 8, 2016, 8:46 am (15 comments)

Illinois Lottery

Includes video report

A high school janitor won 2 million dollars from a scratch-off ticket bought in Gurnee, Illinois.

Dave Martinez stopped at a local gas station Nov. 19 where he bought the winning lottery ticket.

"I started scratching off on the dining room table and thought it was just a hundred thousand at first and then I looked at it again and it said a hundred thousand times twenty and was just mind-boggling," Martinez said.

"I was jumping up and down and my wife was still half asleep," he added.

Martinez has worked as a custodian in the New Trier High School district since 1982. The staff has nicknamed him "Speedy" for how quickly he moves and gets his work done.

"Oh yeah, they call me speedy," he said. "When they ask for a task to be done I go take care of it as soon as possible."

Martinez plans to eventually visit Hawaii, take in a NASCAR race in Daytona, and beginning some home improvement projects.

Martinez's co-workers say the hard-working maintenance man deserves every penny.

"My first thought was it couldn't have happened to a nice guy," said Dave Conway, facilities manager at New Trier.

His recent good fortune aside, Martinez has no plans to quit his job at the high school.

"I still enjoy working here with the teachers and students and faculty and my co-workers and stuff," Martinez said.

VIDEO: Watch the report

NBC

Comments

dr65's avatardr65

What a super holiday season for him and his family! That is a great story...$100,000 x 20! WTG!!

Bleudog101

Todd,

 

Thanks for posting this uplifting story. 

 

Lucky fellow has 11 months 'til retirement and a nice kickoff already.

quicksloth35

LOL "just" $100K? Imagine his surprise had he taken the ticket to claim thinking it was still "just" $100K!

brees2012's avatarbrees2012

Congrats to the winner ! Glad he won it !!!!

Illinoisdreamer

Well congrats to that guy ,, He found the golden ticket (One of 3 winners out there) while all I have gotten from that game is 90% losers

Must be nice though to get a prize like that especially before holiday's

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Congratulations Mr & Mrs,Dave Martinez Spend Wisely Banana Hurray! Party

music*'s avatarmusic*

 the custodian cleaned up! LOL

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Dec 8, 2016

 the custodian cleaned up! LOL

good one Green laugh

ekem6078's avatarekem6078

Congradulations    Merry Merry Christmas.   That'll buy a lot of presents.

IPlayWeekly's avatarIPlayWeekly

Very cool, my day is coming

loveb614

Congrats, nice holiday blessing.  Spend it wisely.

Tatototman65's avatarTatototman65

Congrats!!!

Smile

LottoAce's avatarLottoAce

I bet his days of swabbing decks are over!
(its a Navy thing)

Congrats to the Winner!

Toronto

No more cleaning rich kids' <snip>

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